Needle drive, system and method

ABSTRACT

A liquid chromatography sample manager includes a thermal chamber, a sample platter mounted in the thermal chamber, and a needle drive including a base having a shaft configured to rotate about a vertical axis, the base attachable to an interior of a sample manager of a liquid chromatography system. The needle drive further includes a needle assembly attached to the base, the needle assembly including a sample needle, and a drive system attached to the base, the drive system including a sample needle motor configured to impart vertical movement of the sample needle. The liquid chromatography sample manager further includes a sample delivery system configured to transfer a first sample from a first sample vial carrier located in the sample platter into a chromatographic flow stream.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the earlier filing date of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/990,653 filed Mar. 17, 2020and titled “Needle Drive, System and Method,” the entirety of which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to liquid chromatography systems. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to liquid chromatography samplemanagers, and associated needle drive systems and methods.

BACKGROUND

Chromatography is a set of techniques for separating a mixture into itsconstituents. For instance, in a liquid chromatography system, a pumptakes in and delivers a mixture of liquid solvents to a sample manager,where an injected sample awaits its arrival. In an isocraticchromatography system, the composition of the liquid solvents remainsunchanged, whereas in a gradient chromatography system, the solventcomposition varies over time. The mobile phase, comprised of a sampledissolved in a mixture of solvents, passes to a column, referred to asthe stationary phase. By passing the mixture through the column, thevarious components in the sample separate from each other at differentrates and thus elute from the column at different times. A detectorreceives the elution from the column and produces an output from whichthe identity and quantity of the analysis may be determined.

Prior to being provided into the liquid chromatography system, thesample may be provided to a sample manager. The sample manager may beconfigured to prevent the sample from degrading or becoming otherwisedamaged while providing the sample into the liquid chromatographysystem. Sample managers are regularly interacted with by technicians andas such must be user friendly, dependable, accurate, reliable,serviceable, and cost effective. Improved sample managers, systems andmethods, would be well received in the art.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a liquid chromatography system comprises: a solventdelivery system; a sample manager having a thermal chamber, the thermalchamber including: a sampling mechanism mounted within the thermalchamber, the sampling mechanism including; a sample platter; a needledrive including: a base including a shaft configured to rotate about avertical axis, the base attachable to an interior of a sample manager ofa liquid chromatography system; a needle assembly attached to the base,the needle assembly including a sample needle; and a drive systemattached to the base, the drive system including a sample needle motorconfigured to impart vertical movement of the sample needle; and asample delivery system in fluidic communication with solvent deliverysystem, the sample delivery system configured to transfer a first samplefrom a first sample vial carrier located in the sample platter into achromatographic flow stream; a liquid chromatography column locateddownstream from the solvent delivery system and the sample deliverysystem; and a detector located downstream from the liquid chromatographycolumn.

Additionally or alternatively, the needle assembly further includes apuncture needle, and wherein the drive system further includes apuncture needle motor configured to impart vertical movement on thepuncture needle independently from the vertical movement of the sampleneedle, and wherein the needle assembly further includes a stripper footmovable in the vertical direction, wherein the stripper foot includes anopening through which the puncture needle is configured to extend duringpuncturing.

Additionally or alternatively, the needle drive further including asensor system, the sensor system including a flexible circuit boardattached to the base and configured to bend with the rotation of theshaft about the vertical axis, the sensor system further comprising astripper foot movement sensor configured to determine that the stripperfoot has been moved in a vertical direction a predetermined distance, asample needle movement sensor configured to determine that the sampleneedle has been moved in a vertical direction to a sample needle homeposition, and a puncture needle movement sensor configured to determinethat the puncture needle has been moved in a vertical direction to apuncture needle home position.

Additionally or alternatively, the needle drive further includes: ashaft motor configured to impart rotation on the shaft about thevertical axis; and a magnetic encoder configured to maintain preciserotational position of the shaft of the base.

Additionally or alternatively, the base of the needle drive furtherincludes needle arm housing supporting the shaft in at least twolocations, the needle arm housing attached to an interior of the thermalchamber of the sample manager with a plurality of accessible bolts.

Additionally or alternatively, the needle assembly is attachablyremovable from the base of the needle drive with a plurality ofaccessible bolts, wherein the sample manager further includes a doorproviding a technician access to the thermal chamber when opened,wherein the needle drive is removable from the thermal chamber throughthe door.

In another embodiment, a liquid chromatography sample manager comprises:a thermal chamber; a sample platter mounted in the thermal chamber; aneedle drive including: a base including a shaft configured to rotateabout a vertical axis, the base attachable to an interior of a samplemanager of a liquid chromatography system; a needle assembly attached tothe base, the needle assembly including a sample needle; and a drivesystem attached to the base, the drive system including a sample needlemotor configured to impart vertical movement of the sample needle; and asample delivery system configured to transfer a first sample from afirst sample vial carrier located in the sample platter into achromatographic flow stream.

Additionally or alternatively, the needle assembly further includes apuncture needle, and wherein the drive system further includes apuncture needle motor configured to impart vertical movement on thepuncture needle independently from the vertical movement of the sampleneedle, and wherein the needle assembly further includes a stripper footmovable in the vertical direction, wherein the stripper foot includes anopening through which the puncture needle is configured to extend duringpuncturing.

Additionally or alternatively, the needle drive further including asensor system, the sensor system including a flexible circuit boardattached to the base and configured to bend with the rotation of theshaft about the vertical axis, the sensor system further comprising astripper foot movement sensor configured to determine that the stripperfoot has been moved in a vertical direction a predetermined distance, asample needle movement sensor configured to determine that the sampleneedle has been moved in a vertical direction to a sample needle homeposition, and a puncture needle movement sensor configured to determinethat the puncture needle has been moved in a vertical direction to apuncture needle home position.

Additionally or alternatively, the needle drive further includes: ashaft motor configured to impart rotation on the shaft about thevertical axis; and a magnetic encoder configured to maintain preciserotational position of the shaft of the base.

Additionally or alternatively, the base of the needle drive furtherincludes needle arm housing supporting the shaft in at least twolocations, the needle arm housing attached to an interior of the thermalchamber of the sample manager with a plurality of accessible bolts.

Additionally or alternatively, the needle assembly is attachablyremovable from the base of the needle drive with a plurality ofaccessible bolts, wherein the liquid chromatography sample managerfurther comprises a door providing a technician access to the thermalchamber when opened, wherein the needle drive is removable from thethermal chamber through the door.

In another embodiment, a needle drive for a liquid chromatography systemcomprises: a base including a shaft configured to rotate about avertical axis, the base attachable to an interior of a sample manager ofa liquid chromatography system; a needle assembly attached to the base,the needle assembly including a sample needle; and a drive systemattached to the base, the drive system including a sample needle motorconfigured to impart vertical movement of the sample needle.

Additionally or alternatively, the needle assembly further includes apuncture needle, and wherein the drive system further includes apuncture needle motor configured to impart vertical movement on thepuncture needle independently from the vertical movement of the sampleneedle.

Additionally or alternatively, the needle assembly further includes astripper foot movable in the vertical direction, wherein the stripperfoot includes an opening through which the puncture needle is configuredto extend during puncturing.

Additionally or alternatively, the needle assembly further comprises asensor system, the sensor system including a flexible circuit boardattached to the base and configured to bend with the rotation of theshaft about the vertical axis.

Additionally or alternatively, the sensor system further comprising astripper foot movement sensor configured to determine that the stripperfoot has been moved in a vertical direction a predetermined distance, asample needle movement sensor configured to determine that the sampleneedle has been moved in a vertical direction to a sample needle homeposition, and a puncture needle movement sensor configured to determinethat the puncture needle has been moved in a vertical direction to apuncture needle home position.

Additionally or alternatively, the needle drive includes a shaft motorconfigured to impart rotation on the shaft about the vertical axis.

Additionally or alternatively, the needle drive further includes amagnetic encoder configured to maintain precise rotational position ofthe shaft of the base.

Additionally or alternatively, the base further includes needle armhousing supporting the shaft in at least two locations, the needle armhousing attachable to the interior of the sample manager of the liquidchromatography system with a plurality of accessible bolts.

Additionally or alternatively, the needle assembly is attachablyremovable from the base with a plurality of accessible bolts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and further advantages of this invention may be betterunderstood by referring to the following description in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicatelike elements and features in the various figures. For clarity, notevery element may be labeled in every figure. The drawings are notnecessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustratingthe principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic view of a liquid chromatography systemincluding a sample manager in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective view of a liquid chromatography systemincluding the sample manager of FIG. 1 in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 3 depicts another perspective view of the interior of the samplemanager of FIGS. 1 and 2, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4 depicts a perspective view of the interior of the sample managerof FIGS. 1 and 2 in a first calibration position, in accordance with oneembodiment.

FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of the interior of the sample managerof FIGS. 1 and 2 in a second calibration position, in accordance withone embodiment.

FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of a needle arm detached from aninterior of a sample manager, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view of the needle arm of FIG. 6 with aneedle assembly detached, in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 8 depicts a side view of the needle arm of FIG. 6, in accordancewith one embodiment.

FIG. 9 depicts a top view of the needle arm of FIGS. 6 and 8, inaccordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 10 depicts a side cross sectional view of the needle arm of FIGS.6, 8 and 9, taken at arrows 10-10 in FIG. 9, in accordance with oneembodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment”means that a particular, feature, structure or characteristic describedin connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodimentof the teaching. References to a particular embodiment within thespecification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment.

The present teaching will now be described in more detail with referenceto exemplary embodiments thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings.While the present teaching is described in conjunction with variousembodiments and examples, it is not intended that the present teachingbe limited to such embodiments. On the contrary, the present teachingencompasses various alternatives, modifications and equivalents, as willbe appreciated by those of skill in the art. Those of ordinary skillhaving access to the teaching herein will recognize additionalimplementations, modifications and embodiments, as well as other fieldsof use, which are within the scope of the present disclosure asdescribed herein.

As described herein, prior to performing a liquid chromatography run, atechnician loads an array of vials containing samples onto a sample-vialcarrier, places the sample-vial carrier onto a drawer, and slides thedrawer into a bay within a sample platter of a thermal chamber of asample manager system. The sample manager system includes a sampledelivery system that is configured to transfer the sample from thesample-vial carrier into a chromatographic flow stream. The thermalchamber includes sampling mechanism which includes a rotating sampleplatter with improved sample capacity and sampling accuracy. A samplingneedle as a part of the sampling mechanism is located on a rotatingneedle arm that, in combination with the rotating sample platter,provides complete needle coverage over the bays within the sampleplatter. The entirety of the needle arm is positioned and sized withinthe thermal chamber such that the needle arm is removable out a frontdoor of the thermal chamber for ease of service. Encoders on therotating needle arm and rotating sample platter maintain sufficientresolution for accurate sampling. These rotating needle arm may becalibrated using an accuracy-ensuring calibration process.

The features of the sample delivery system and sample manager thermalchamber described herein may be applicable to any liquid chromatographysystem configured to deliver samples into a chromatographic flow stream.As one example, FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a liquid chromatographysystem 10 for separating a mixture into its constituents. The liquidchromatography system 10 includes a solvent delivery system 12 influidic communication with a sample manager 14 (also called an injectoror an autosampler) through tubing 16. The sample manager 14 is influidic communication with a chromatographic column 18. A detector 21for example, a mass spectrometer, is in fluidic communication with thecolumn 18 to receive the elution.

The solvent delivery system 12 includes a pumping system 20 in fluidiccommunication with solvent reservoirs 22 from which the pumping system20 draws solvents (liquid) through tubing 24. In one embodiment, thepumping system 20 is embodied by a low-pressure mixing gradient pumpingsystem having two pumps fluidically connected in series. In thelow-pressure gradient pumping system, the mixing of solvents occursbefore the pump, and the solvent delivery system 12 has a mixer 26 influidic communication with the solvent reservoirs 22 to receive varioussolvents in metered proportions. This mixing of solvents (mobile phase)composition that varies over time (i.e., the gradient).

The pumping system 20 is in fluidic communication with the mixer 26 todraw a continuous flow of gradient therefrom for delivery to the samplemanager 14. Examples of solvent delivery systems that can be used toimplement the solvent delivery system 12 include, but are not limitedto, the ACQUITY Binary Solvent Manager and the ACQUITY QuaternarySolvent Manager, manufactured by Waters Corp. of Milford, Mass.

The sample manager 14 may include an injector valve 28 having a sampleloop 30. The sample manager 14 operates in one of two states: a loadstate and an injection state. In the load state, the position of theinjector valve 28 is such that the sample manager loads the sample 32into the sample loop 30. The sample 32 is drawn from a vial contained bya sample vial carrier. “Sample vial carrier” herein means any deviceconfigured to carry a sample vial such as a well plate, sample vialcarrier, or the like. In the injection state, the position of theinjector valve 28 changes so that the sample manager 14 introduces thesample in the sample loop 30 into the continuously flowing mobile phasefrom the solvent delivery system. The mobile phase thus carries thesample into the column 18. In other embodiments, a flow through needle(FTN) may be utilized instead of a Fixed-Loop sample manager. Using anFTN approach, the sample may be pulled into the needle and then theneedle may be moved into a seal. The valve may then be switched to makethe needle in-line with the solvent delivery system.

The liquid chromatography system 10 further includes a data system 34that is in signal communication with the solvent delivery system 12 andthe sample manager 14. The data system 34 has a processor 36 and aswitch 38 (e.g. an Ethernet switch) for handling signal communicationbetween the solvent delivery system 12 and sample manager 14, asdescribed herein. Signal communication among the various systems andinstruments can be electrical or optical, using wireless or wiredtransmission. A host computing system 40 is in communication with thedata system 34 by which a technician can download various parameters andprofiles (e.g., an intake velocity profile) to the data system 34.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the liquid chromatography system 10including the sample manager 14, the detector 21, the chromatographiccolumn 18, the solvent delivery system 12, and the solvents 22. Each ofthe sample manager 14, the detector 21, the chromatographic column 18,the solvent delivery system 12 may include a housing or body withinwhich the various features may be housed, such as the data system 34,the sample loop 30 and injector valve 28, the pumping system 20, themixer 26 and the tubing 24. The various components 12, 14, 18, 19, 21,22 may be interconnected with fluidic tubes and in signal communicationto the data system 34 of the system. The liquid chromatography system 10is shown with the solvent delivery system 12, sample manager 14,chromatographic column 18, detector 21 and a tray for holding thesolvents 22 stacked together.

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of the sampling mechanism 100 of thesample manager 14 of FIGS. 1 and 2, in accordance with one embodiment.As shown the sampling mechanism 100 includes a sample platter 110attached to datum base 112. A vertical frame 114 is attached and extendsperpendicular from the datum base 112. A needle arm 116 is attached tothe vertical frame 114. The needle arm 116 includes a puncture needle122 (shown in FIG. 4) and a sample needle (not shown) as part of asample delivery system that is in fluidic communication with the solventdelivery system 12. The sample needle may be configured to obtain orotherwise draw the sample 32 from a sample vial 33 (shown in FIG. 2).Thereafter, the sample delivery system of the liquid chromatographysystem 10 is configured to transfer the sample 32 into a chromatographicflow stream and to the column 18 located downstream from the sampledelivery system, and then to the detector 21 located downstream from thecolumn 18. The sample vial 33 may be one of many vials located within upto four sample vial carriers (not shown), located on the sample platter110.

The sample platter 110 may be configured to rotate 360 degrees about afirst vertical axis A1 while the needle arm 116 is configured to atleast partially rotate about a second vertical axis A2. These tworotations may provide for sufficient coverage by the needle arm 116across all the sample vial carriers 124 within the sample platter 110.The rotating needle arm 116, in combination with the rotation of thesample platter 110, may thereby be configured to move the sample needle122 into position to access any location on the sample platter 110 thatholds a sample vial 33 within a sample vial carrier.

As shown, the sample platter 110 includes a circular frame that includesfour bays—a first carrier bay 126 a, a second carrier bay 126 b, a thirdcarrier bay 126 c, and a fourth carrier bay 126 d. The carrier bays 126a, 126 b, 126 c, 126 d are disposed equidistant about a perimeter of thecircular sample platter 110. In other words, the carrier bays, 126 a,126 b, 126 c, 126 d are disposed circumferentially 90 degrees from eachother about the circular sample platter 110. As described above, therotating needle arm 116, in combination with the rotation of the sampleplatter 110, is configured to move the sample needle 122 directly aboveany location covered by the respective perimeters of the respectivecarrier bays 126 a, 126 b, 126 c, 126 d. The platter can include fourbays as shown but may also include three bays or extended to even morethan four bays in other embodiments. The bays may be equidistant fromeach other or may be staggered in other manners about the circumferenceof the circular sample platter 110.

Each of the carrier bays 126 a, 126 b, 126 c, 126 d is shown as a drawerthat slides into and out of a bay drawer receiver 128 a, 128 b, 128 c,128 d. The carrier bays 126 a, 126 b, 126 c, 126 d may be configured tobe pulled from respective bay drawer receivers 128 a, 128 b, 128 c, 128d radially outwardly in order to facilitate ease of loading of samplevial carriers into and out a front door 130 of the sample platter (shownin FIG. 2). The integration of the carrier bays 126 a, 126 b, 126 c, 126d and the respective bay drawer receivers 128 a, 128 b, 128 c, 128 d maybe configured to stop the carrier bays 126 a, 126 b, 126 c, 126 d beforethe carrier bays 126 a, 126 b, 126 c, 126 d become fully disconnectedfrom the bay drawer receivers 128 a, 128 b, 128 c, 128 d. Alternatively,the bezel of the sampling mechanism 100 may include a structure thatprevents the carrier bays 126 a, 126 b, 126 c, 126 d from becoming fullydisconnected from the bay drawer receivers 128 a, 128 b, 128 c, 128 d.

The carrier bays 126 a, 126 b, 126 c, 126 d are each configured forreceiving sample vial carriers. The sample manager 100 may be configuredto receive and process samples within all four carrier bays 126 a, 126b, 126 c, 126 d. In addition to sliding in and out of the bay drawerreceivers 128 a, 128 b, 128 c, 128 d via a track system, the carrierbays 126 a, 126 b, 126 c, 126 d may include magnets positionedunderneath that are configured to magnetically retain the sample vialcarriers into position within the carrier bays 126 a, 126 b, 126 c, 126d. Corresponding magnets may be located a radially inward positionwithin the carrier bays 126 a, 126 b, 126 c, 126 d to further ensurethat the carrier bay 126 a, 126 b, 126 c, 126 d is in position properly(i.e. fully inserted) relative to the bay drawer receivers 128 a, 128 b,128 c, 128 d. Leaf springs 132 may be configured to bias received sampleplatters toward the left most wall of the respective carrier bays 126 a,126 b, 126 c, 126 d, while the magnetic structure retains the receivedsample platters against the radially inward wall of the respectivecarrier bays 126 a, 126 b, 126 c, 126 d.

The sample platter 110 includes a middle opening 134 for receiving apost 136 around which the sample platter 110 is configured to rotateabout the vertical axis A1. The sample platter 110 further includesadditional openings 136 disposed around the perimeter in between thecarrier bays 126 a, 126 b, 126 c, 126 d configured to receive and holdlarger single individual vials (not shown) or other samples. The needlearm 116 (and the needle thereof) may be configured to be positioned overeach of the perimeter additional openings 136.

The sample platter 110 is shown mounted to the datum base 112. The datumbase 112 may be a metallic plate that is mounted to a thermal chamberframe (not shown) within the sample manager 14. The datum base 112 mayinclude openings through which deflection limiting columns 120 extend.The deflection limiting columns 120 may be configured to preventdeflection of the sample platter 110 beyond a specific distance relativeto the datum base 112 before being stopped. The deflection limitingcolumns 120 may be keyed to a channel in the bottom of the sampleplatter 110 and may act as bearings to allow rotation of the sampleplatter 110 about the datum base 112. Rotation of the sample platter 110about the datum base 112 may be created by a motor 150 disposed on thedatum base 112 proximate the perimeter of the sample platter 110. Thedatum base 112 further includes a plurality of threaded openingsconfigured to receive bolts for attaching a right-angle bracket 118thereto at each side. The right-angle brackets 118 may be configured toattach the vertical frame 114 to the datum base 112 in a perpendicularorientation. An encoder (not shown) may further be attached to thesample platter 110 to maintain positioning of the sample platter 110relative to the datum base 112.

The vertical frame 114 is attached to the datum base 112 such that thevertical frame 114 extends through the circumference of the sampleplatter 110. To account for this location being over the sample platter110, the vertical frame 114 includes an opening 140 (shown in FIG. 4) orcutout through which the sample platter 110 and any received sample vialcarrier 124 a, 124 b, and any received sample vials 33, are configuredto pass. The opening 140 is dimensioned tall enough to receive the tallsample vial carriers 124 b without causing interference. The verticalframe 114 creates a surface over the opening 140 upon which to mount theneedle arm 116.

The needle arm 116 is shown including a drive mechanism 142 and a motor144. The motor 144 is configured to rotate about an axis that rotates abelt 148, which in turn rotates a pulley 152. Rotation of the pulley 152may be configured to impart rotation of the needle arm 116 about thesecond vertical axis A2. The rotation of the needle arm 116 may beindependent rotation relative to the rotation of the sample platter 110,and may be rotation about a different vertical axis A2 than the verticalaxis A1 about which the sample platter 110 rotates.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a perspective view of the interior of thesample manager 14 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is shown in a first calibrationposition, in accordance with one embodiment. The first calibrationposition shown in FIG. 4 is a position where the needle arm 116 isrotated counter clockwise about the second vertical axis A2 relative tothe position shown in FIG. 3. As shown, a shaft 154 extends through thepulley 152 that is attached and configured to rotate with the pulley152. The shaft 154 is connected to a rotating plate 155 that isconfigured to rotate with the shaft 154 and impart rotation on a needleassembly 190. The shaft 154 includes a biasing spring 232. A removableneedle arm housing 158 is attached to the vertical frame 114. Theremovable needle arm housing 158 includes a horizontal plate 160extending from just above the opening 140 in the vertical frame 114. Thehorizontal plate 160 includes a bushing 156 configured to receive thebase of the shaft 154 and maintain the shaft 154 in alignment with thesecond vertical axis A2. The needle arm housing 158 is removablyattached to the vertical frame 114 with a plurality of accessible bolts162. The accessible bolts 162 are accessible through the door 130 of thesample manager 14. This may allow the entirety of the vertical frame 114and the needle arm 116 and all of the components thereof to be easilyremovable through the door 130 during maintenance or part replacement.

The needle arm 116 further includes a magnetic encoder 146. The magneticencoder 146 may be configured to determine rotational position of theneedle arm 116 to whatever tolerance is necessary for accuratepositioning of the sample needle 122. Likewise, the motor 150 may beequipped with an encoder for determining the rotational position of thesample platter 110. The two encoders in the system may be incommunication with a control system (e.g. data system 34) forcalibrating and controlling movement of the needle arm 116 and thesample platter 110. While magnetic encoders may be utilized, otherencoders are contemplated, such as optical encoders.

The needle arm 116 is shown including two separate motors 164 a, 164 bconfigured to rotate two separate drive shafts. A first motor 164 a isconfigured to rotate a first drive shaft 236 (shown in FIGS. 6 and 8)that enacts movement on the puncture needle 122. A second motor 164 b isconfigured to rotate a second drive shaft 238 (shown in FIGS. 6 and 8)that enacts movement on a sample needle (not shown). The first andsecond motors 164 a, 164 b may be attached to the needle arm 116 suchthat the motors 164 a, 164 b rotate with the needle arm 116. Thepuncture needle 122 may operate in conjunction with the sample needle inorder to puncture whatever material or membrane covers a sample vial.The two motors 164 a, 164 b may be configured to operate independentlyand may be controlled and programed by the control system and/or datasystem 34 for operational routines.

The needle assembly 190 of the needle arm includes a plate 192 havingtwo accessible bolts 194 which may be accessible by a technician thatopens the door 130 of the sample manager 14. Upon unbolting theaccessible bolts 194, the technician may remove the needle assembly 190and the attached motors 164 a, 164 b from the needle mechanism base 230.The needle assembly 190 and the motors 164 a, 164 b may be removablethrough the door 130 of the sample manager 14 without removing theneedle mechanism base 230. Similarly, the motors 164 a, 164 b may beeasily removed from the needle arm 116 by removal of one or moreaccessible motor bolts 196 from the plate 192. This may allow for themotors 164 a, 164 b to be easily replaced or removed for maintenancethrough the front door 130 of the sample manager 14 without removal ofother components of the needle arm 116.

The sample delivery system may further include a fluidic tube (notshown) located between the sample needle and the liquid chromatographycolumn 18. The fluidic tube may include a coiled portion configured toexpand and contract during rotation of the needle arm 116 about thesecond vertical axis A2. The coiled portion may extend between the topof the needle arm 116 above the puncture needle 122 and to the verticalframe 114. The coiled portion may uncoil when the needle arm 116 rotatesaway from the vertical frame 114 and recoils when the needle arm 116rotates toward the vertical frame 114. The coiled portion of the fluidictube may be spiraled, bent, or otherwise curled in order to provide forlengthwise expansion and contraction in a predictable manner that doesnot interfere with the other movement of the various components withinthe sample manager 14.

Referring back to FIG. 3, the needle arm 116 is shown in this viewhaving been rotated to a home position, whereby a projecting stop 182that is connected to, coupled to, or integrated into, the vertical frame114 is contacted with the needle assembly 190. The home position may bea position that is rotated to a stopping point, past which the needlearm 116 may not be capable of rotating. As shown, at the home positionthe needle arm 116 is rotated in a clockwise direction to a point ofmaximum rotation whereby the needle arm 116 is stopped from furtherclockwise rotation by the projecting stop 182.

Attached to the datum base 112 may be a needle wash system (not shown)extending from an opening 170 located in the datum base 112 near thehome position or location. The needle wash system may include aplurality of liquid source tubes each configured to introduce waterand/or other cleaning agent(s) to wash the sample needle 122 and/or thepuncture needle when the needles are moved over the needle wash system.A wash process may include, for example, providing a first cleaningagent to the sample needle 122 from a first of the liquid source tubes,and then moving the sample needle 122 over the second of the liquidsource tubes to be cleansed with water. Other wash processes andstructure are contemplated as would be appropriate to wash needle(s) inthe needle arm 116.

The needle arm 116 may be configured to rotate about the rotating shaft154 and the second axis A2 an amount that allows complete coverage ofthe needle assembly 190 over the entirety of the working portion of thesample platter 110. The needle arm 116 may be configured to rotate morethan 45 degrees but less than 90 degrees in the embodiment shown.Additional rotational movement than what is shown (i.e. equal to orgreater than 90 degrees) is also contemplated in other embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the interior of the sample manager 14 ofFIGS. 1 and 2 is shown with the needle arm 116 located in twocalibration positions, in accordance with one embodiment. In variouscontemplated embodiments, various calibration systems are contemplated.FIGS. 4 and 5 shown one exemplary calibration system in which the datasystem 34 and/or sample manager control system may be configured tocalibrate the sampling mechanism 100 to use. One calibration process mayinclude a first step, shown in FIG. 4, of moving the sample platter 110and the needle arm 116 to align the needle with the first opening 210 inthe sample platter and then recording a first encoder position of eachthe sample platter 110 and the needle arm 116. For example, the needlearm 116 may move counter-clockwise from the home position (shown in FIG.3) to the position shown in FIG. 4 so that the puncture needle 122 (orsample needle) is directly above the first opening 210.

The calibration process may then include a second step of moving thesample platter 110 and the needle arm 116 to the position shown in FIG.5, in order to align the puncture needle 122 (or sample needle) with thesecond opening 220 in the sample platter. The calibration process maythen include recording a second encoder position of each the sampleplatter 110 and the needle arm 116. With the known first and secondencoder positions, the data system 34 and/or sample manager controlsystem may be configured to back-calculate the geometric parameters ofthe sampling mechanism 100 and thereby calibrate the movement andposition of the sample platter 110 and the needle arm 116. Thepositional accuracy may be more precise than a typical prior artcalibration process, as the inventive process described above does notrely on assumed geometric qualities being within a certain level oftolerance.

FIG. 6 depicts a perspective view of the needle arm 116 detached fromthe interior of the sample manager 14, in accordance with oneembodiment. As shown, the needle arm 116 includes a base 230 that isremovably attachable to the sample manager 14 of the liquidchromatography system 10. The needle arm 116 further includes the needleassembly 190 that is removably attachable to the base 230. Theremovability of each of the base 230 from the sample manager 14 and theneedle assembly 190 from the base 230 may be provided by accessiblebolts, screws, pins or other easily accessible, engageable and/ordisengageable coupling devices. The attachable removability of each ofthese components as described herein provides for ease of servicing andreplacing components of the needle arm 116 through a front door of thesample manager 14. Further, as described above, the needle arm 116includes sufficient structure to provide for rotational movement of thearm about a vertical axis when the needle arm 116 is attached within asample manager 14.

FIG. 7 depicts a perspective view of the base 230 of the needle arm ofFIG. 6 with the needle assembly 190 detached, in accordance with oneembodiment. The base 230 includes the removable needle arm housing 158.The removable needle arm housing 158 provides a frame for attaching thebase 230 to the interior of the sample manager 14 of the liquidchromatography system 10, such as by attachment of the removable needlearm housing 158 to the vertical frame 114. The removable needle armhousing 158 includes a flat vertical surface configured to abut the flatvertical surface of the vertical frame 114. As shown in FIG. 6, aplurality of alignment pins 234 located on a back surface of the needlearm housing 158 act in cooperation with the accessible bolts 162 toattach the flat vertical surface of the needle arm housing 158 with theflat vertical surface of the vertical frame 114. While not shown, thevertical frame 114 may include corresponding bores, or female receivingopenings for receiving each of the accessible bolts 162 and alignmentpins 234.

As shown, the base 230 includes the shaft 154 that is configured torotate about the vertical axis A2. The removable needle arm housing 158is configured to hold the shaft 154 at both a top location and a bottomlocation, while allowing the shaft 154 to rotate about the removableneedle arm housing 158. Specifically, the removable needle arm housing158 includes the lower horizontal plate 160 and an upper horizontalplate 161 extending from the flat vertical surface of the removableneedle arm housing 158. The bushing 156 is disposed with an opening atthe lower horizontal plate 160 allowing the shaft 154 to rotate therein.

The base 230 further includes the motor 144, the drive mechanism 142,the belt 148, the pulley 152, and the rotating plate 155. The drivemechanism 142 of the motor 144 may be a drive shaft, or the like, thatthe motor 144 is configured to cause to rotate. Rotation of the drivemechanism 142 further causes movement of the belt 148 and therebyrotation of the pulley 152 that is attached to the vertical shaft 154.The rotating plate 155 is attached to the shaft 154, and is configuredto rotate with rotation of the shaft 154.

FIG. 8 depicts a side view of the needle arm 116 in accordance with oneembodiment including both the needle assembly 190 and the base 230.Referring to both the perspective view of FIG. 6 and the side view ofFIG. 8, the base 230 is shown including each of the motor 144, themagnetic encoder 146, the housing 158 and the rotating plate 155. Theneedle assembly 190 includes a housing 264 or other body upon which thecomponents of the needle assembly 190 are attached. As shown, the plate192 of the housing 264 of the needle assembly 190 is attached to thebase 230, and specifically to the rotating plate 155.

The needle assembly 190 includes a drive system. The drive systemincludes a first motor having a first drive shaft 236 attached to a topof the plate 192 of the housing 264. The needle assembly 190 furtherincludes a second motor 164 b having a second drive shaft 238 attachedto a bottom of the plate 192 of the housing 264. The first motor 164 aand first drive shaft 236 are configured to impart vertical motion ormovement on the puncture needle 122 via imparting vertical motion ormovement on a puncture needle axis 260. Likewise, the second motor 164 band the second drive shaft 238 are configured to impart vertical motionor movement on a sample needle 261 via imparting vertical motion ormovement on a sample needle axis 258.

Further, a stripper foot 262 is attached to a stripper foot axis 268that includes a spring loaded end 266 having a spring mechanism. Thespring mechanism may be configured to compress during downward movementof the stripper foot 262 and stripper foot axis 268. In use, thestripper foot 262 may contact the top of a sample vial (not shown),after which the puncture needle 122 may be pushed through a protectivemembrane of the sample vial. After the puncture needle 122 has puncturedthis top protective membrane, the puncture needle 122 must be retractedfrom the sample vial and protective membrane. The stripper foot 262 maybe configured to provide a downward force on the top of the sample vialso that the puncture needle 122 may be retracted properly withoutsticking to the protective membrane of the sample vial. The stripperfoot 262 includes an opening through which the puncture needle 122 isconfigured to extend during puncturing.

As shown in FIG. 6, the stripper foot axis 268 is movable relative tothe puncture needle axis 260, via two couplings 270. The couplings 270may include a top elongated vertical opening and a bottom elongatedopening in the stripper foot axis 268 through which top and bottomrespective pins extend. The top and bottom respective pins are attachedto a puncture needle coupling surface 272 of the puncture needle axis260. The top and bottom elongated vertical openings cooperate with thepins so that the stripper foot axis 268 and the puncture needle axis 260are connected or otherwise coupled in a manner that allows for verticalmovement between the stripper foot axis 268 and the puncture needle axis260. The maximum vertical movement between the stripper foot axis 268and the puncture needle axis 260 is defined by the vertical length ofthe top and bottom elongated vertical openings in the stripper foot axis268.

The sample needle 261 is located along the same vertical axis as thepuncture needle 122. The sample needle 261 may be a needle having asmaller diameter than the puncture needle 122 such that the sampleneedle 261 is configured to extend through the larger diameter openingof the puncture needle 122. A needle holder 244 is located at a top ofthe sample needle axis 258. The sample needle holder 244 may beconfigured to removably receive the sample needle 261 at a location thataligns the sample needle 261 with the puncture needle 122. The sampleneedle holder 244 is attached to the sample needle axis 258 so that thesample needle holder 244, and thereby the sample needle 261, move whenthe sample needle axis 258 is driven or moved by the second motor 164 band the second drive shaft 238 thereof.

FIG. 9 depicts a top view of the needle arm 116, in accordance with oneembodiment. Referring to both the perspective view of FIG. 6 and the topview of FIG. 9, a needle arm sensor system is shown. The sensor systemincludes a sample needle home sensor 240, a puncture needle home sensor254, and a top sensor 252. The sensor system may further include aprinted circuit board 246 configured to provide power, control signalsand/or communication signals to and from the various sensors 240, 254,252 in the sensor system. The printed circuit board 246 may be aflexible circuit board configured to flex with rotation of the needleassembly 190 about the vertical shaft 154. The printed circuit board 246may be capable of performing its function without losing its signaland/or conductive integrity while being bent back and forth through therotation of the needle assembly 190 about the vertical shaft 154throughout the lifecycle of the needle arm 116. The sensor system and/orprinted circuit board 246 and the sensors 240, 254, 252 may be inoperable communication with a control system such as the data system 34,such that sensed information is provided to the data system 34 forprocessing.

The sample needle home sensor 240 is configured to sense movement of thesample needle axis 258 and/or determine when the sample needle axis 258arrives in a home (top) position. The sample needle home sensor 240 maybe configured to sense and/or determine that the sample needle 261 hasbeen moved in a vertical direction a predetermined distance to a sampleneedle home position. The sample needle holder 244 is connected to thesample needle axis 258 and moves with the sample needle axis 258. Thesample needle holder 244 includes an extending projection 242 configuredto move between the two prongs of the sample needle home sensor 240.Thus, when the sample needle axis 258 moves to a top home position, theextending projection 242 is positioned between the two prongs of thesample needle home sensor 240, which thereby senses that the sampleneedle axis 258 is in the home position. A connecting conductor 248extends between the printed circuit board 246 and the sample needle homesensor 240 configured to provide power and/or other control orcommunication signals to and from the sample needle home sensor 240.

The puncture needle home sensor 254 is configured to sense movement ofthe puncture needle axis 260 and/or determine when the puncture needleaxis 260 arrives in a home (top) position. The puncture needle homesensor 254 may be configured to sense and/or determine that the punctureneedle 122 has been moved in a vertical direction a predetermineddistance to a puncture needle home position. The puncture needle axis260, and specifically the puncture needle coupling surface 272 thereof,includes an extending projection 256 configured to move between the twoprongs of the puncture needle home sensor 254. Thus, when the punctureneedle axis 260 moves to a top home position, the extending projection256 is positioned between the two prongs of the puncture needle homesensor 254, which thereby senses that the puncture needle axis 260 is inthe home position. A connecting conductor 248 extends between theprinted circuit board 246 and the puncture needle home sensor 254configured to provide power and/or other control or communicationsignals to and from the puncture needle home sensor 254.

The top sensor 252 of the sensor system is configured to sense when thestripper foot 262 is compressed by a predetermined amount. Thispredetermined amount may correspond to a force acting on the stripperfoot 262 by a top of the sample vial. A service loop 250 may extend fromthe printed circuit board 246 to the top sensor 252 for providing powerand/or other control or communication signals to and from the top sensor252. The top sensor 252 may be a stripper foot movement sensorconfigured to determine that the stripper foot 262 has been moved in avertical direction over a predetermined distance.

FIG. 10 depicts a side cross sectional view of the needle arm 116, inaccordance with one embodiment, taken at arrows 10-10 of FIG. 9. Asshown, the drive system may include a system for converting therotational motion of the drive shafts 236, 238 to vertical linear motionof the axis 258, 260. The first and second motors 164 a, 164 b mayoperate independently from each other such that the puncture needle 122and the sample needle 261 are capable of independent vertical motion.The top drive shaft 236 is shown extending from the first motor 164 athrough an opening in the plate 192 of the housing 264. Similarly, thebottom drive shaft 238 is shown extending from the second motor 164 bthrough an opening in the plate 192 of the housing 264. As shown, thetop drive shaft 236 is attached to an engagement structure 274 that isconfigured to bypass the sample needle axis 258 and engage with thepuncture needle axis 260 to convert rotational motion of the drive shaft236 to linear vertical motion of the puncture needle axis 260.Similarly, the bottom drive shaft 238 is attached to an engagementstructure 276 that is configured to engage with the sample needle axis258 to convert rotational motion of the drive shaft 238 to linearvertical motion of the sample needle axis 258.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tospecific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in theart that various changes in form and detail may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as recited in theaccompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid chromatography system comprising: a solvent delivery system; a sample manager having a thermal chamber, the thermal chamber including: a sampling mechanism mounted within the thermal chamber, the sampling mechanism including; a sample platter; a needle drive including: a base including a shaft configured to rotate about a vertical axis, the base attachable to an interior of a sample manager of a liquid chromatography system; a needle assembly attached to the base, the needle assembly including a sample needle; and a drive system attached to the base, the drive system including a sample needle motor configured to impart vertical movement of the sample needle; and a sample delivery system in fluidic communication with solvent delivery system, the sample delivery system configured to transfer a first sample from a first sample vial carrier located in the sample platter into a chromatographic flow stream; a liquid chromatography column located downstream from the solvent delivery system and the sample delivery system; and a detector located downstream from the liquid chromatography column.
 2. The liquid chromatography system, of claim 1, wherein the needle assembly further includes a puncture needle, and wherein the drive system further includes a puncture needle motor configured to impart vertical movement on the puncture needle independently from the vertical movement of the sample needle, and wherein the needle assembly further includes a stripper foot movable in the vertical direction, wherein the stripper foot includes an opening through which the puncture needle is configured to extend during puncturing.
 3. The liquid chromatography system of claim 2, the needle drive further including a sensor system, the sensor system including a flexible circuit board attached to the base and configured to bend with the rotation of the shaft about the vertical axis, the sensor system further comprising a stripper foot movement sensor configured to determine that the stripper foot has been moved in a vertical direction a predetermined distance, a sample needle movement sensor configured to determine that the sample needle has been moved in a vertical direction to a sample needle home position, and a puncture needle movement sensor configured to determine that the puncture needle has been moved in a vertical direction to a puncture needle home position.
 4. The liquid chromatography system of claim 1, the needle drive further including: a shaft motor configured to impart rotation on the shaft about the vertical axis; and a magnetic encoder configured to maintain precise rotational position of the shaft of the base.
 5. The liquid chromatography system of claim 1, wherein the base of the needle drive further includes needle arm housing supporting the shaft in at least two locations, the needle arm housing attached to an interior of the thermal chamber of the sample manager with a plurality of accessible bolts.
 6. The liquid chromatography system of claim 1, wherein the needle assembly is attachably removable from the base of the needle drive with a plurality of accessible bolts, wherein the sample manager further includes a door providing a technician access to the thermal chamber when opened, wherein the needle drive is removable from the thermal chamber through the door.
 7. A liquid chromatography sample manager comprising: a thermal chamber; a sample platter mounted in the thermal chamber; a needle drive including: a base including a shaft configured to rotate about a vertical axis, the base attachable to an interior of a sample manager of a liquid chromatography system; a needle assembly attached to the base, the needle assembly including a sample needle; and a drive system attached to the base, the drive system including a sample needle motor configured to impart vertical movement of the sample needle; and a sample delivery system configured to transfer a first sample from a first sample vial carrier located in the sample platter into a chromatographic flow stream.
 8. The liquid chromatography sample manager, of claim 7, wherein the needle assembly further includes a puncture needle, and wherein the drive system further includes a puncture needle motor configured to impart vertical movement on the puncture needle independently from the vertical movement of the sample needle, and wherein the needle assembly further includes a stripper foot movable in the vertical direction, wherein the stripper foot includes an opening through which the puncture needle is configured to extend during puncturing.
 9. The liquid chromatography sample manager of claim 7, the needle drive further including a sensor system, the sensor system including a flexible circuit board attached to the base and configured to bend with the rotation of the shaft about the vertical axis, the sensor system further comprising a stripper foot movement sensor configured to determine that the stripper foot has been moved in a vertical direction a predetermined distance, a sample needle movement sensor configured to determine that the sample needle has been moved in a vertical direction to a sample needle home position, and a puncture needle movement sensor configured to determine that the puncture needle has been moved in a vertical direction to a puncture needle home position.
 10. The liquid chromatography sample manager of claim 7, the needle drive further including: a shaft motor configured to impart rotation on the shaft about the vertical axis; and a magnetic encoder configured to maintain precise rotational position of the shaft of the base.
 11. The liquid chromatography sample manager of claim 7, wherein the base of the needle drive further includes needle arm housing supporting the shaft in at least two locations, the needle arm housing attached to an interior of the thermal chamber of the sample manager with a plurality of accessible bolts.
 12. The liquid chromatography sample manager of claim 7, wherein the needle assembly is attachably removable from the base of the needle drive with a plurality of accessible bolts, wherein the liquid chromatography sample manager further comprises a door providing a technician access to the thermal chamber when opened, wherein the needle drive is removable from the thermal chamber through the door.
 13. A needle drive for a liquid chromatography system comprising: a base including a shaft configured to rotate about a vertical axis, the base attachable to an interior of a sample manager of a liquid chromatography system; a needle assembly attached to the base, the needle assembly including a sample needle; and a drive system attached to the base, the drive system including a sample needle motor configured to impart vertical movement of the sample needle.
 14. The needle drive of claim 13, wherein the needle assembly further includes a puncture needle, and wherein the drive system further includes a puncture needle motor configured to impart vertical movement on the puncture needle independently from the vertical movement of the sample needle.
 15. The needle drive of claim 14, wherein the needle assembly further includes a stripper foot movable in the vertical direction, wherein the stripper foot includes an opening through which the puncture needle is configured to extend during puncturing.
 16. The needle drive of claim 15, further comprising a sensor system, the sensor system including a flexible circuit board attached to the base and configured to bend with the rotation of the shaft about the vertical axis.
 17. The needle drive of claim 16, the sensor system further comprising a stripper foot movement sensor configured to determine that the stripper foot has been moved in a vertical direction a predetermined distance, a sample needle movement sensor configured to determine that the sample needle has been moved in a vertical direction to a sample needle home position, and a puncture needle movement sensor configured to determine that the puncture needle has been moved in a vertical direction to a puncture needle home position.
 18. The needle drive of claim 13, further comprising a shaft motor configured to impart rotation on the shaft about the vertical axis.
 19. The needle drive of claim 18, further comprising a magnetic encoder configured to maintain precise rotational position of the shaft of the base.
 20. The needle drive of claim 13, wherein the base further includes needle arm housing supporting the shaft in at least two locations, the needle arm housing attachable to the interior of the sample manager of the liquid chromatography system with a plurality of accessible bolts.
 21. The needle drive of claim 13, wherein the needle assembly is attachably removable from the base with a plurality of accessible bolts. 